PRETTY GIRL

Leah Marinelli

AGE: 20 | HEIGHT: 5'6" | HOMETOWN: OTTAWA, ON

Leah Marinelli was born in Ottawa, Ontario. She is currently in her third year at Carleton University completing her B.A Honours in Sociology and a minor in Communications. Leah plans on attending broadcasting school after graduation; her goal is to become a news reporter/anchor.

Leah strongly believes in the importance of living a healthy and active lifestyle, she is dedicated to being the best person she can be and she hopes to inspire the same belief in others. Her motto in life is that nothing is impossible and if you believe in yourself you can achieve anything.

Leah has a range of passions which includes, cooking, cheerleading, and fitness. She devotes her time to spending it with family and friends and she always has a positive attitude and bubbly personality.

Leah hopes to make a difference, and be a positive role model to empower young women; she is thankful for this opportunity to be a part of Miss Universe Canada and hopes to fully indulge in this once and a lifetime experience.

Questionnaire

Are you currently a student? If yes, where? Area of study:
Carleton University- Education. Undergraduate Honours in Sociology and a minor in Mass Communications

Are you currently employed? If yes, what is your occupation?
I work as a receptionist at a hair salon, Hair World.

Have you completed secondary school? If yes, where?
St. Marks Catholic High School

Languages spoken Fluently (please include your native language if English is not your native language)
Native language – English

List any special training you have had (music, art, drama, dance, etc).
I took dance classes at Denise Smith Dance Academy for several years
I had piano lessons growing up for 3 years

In what sports, if any, have you participated and how long have you participated in each sport?
I have participated in many sports while growing up; I was a competitive swimmer for seven years with the Nepean Kanata Barracudas.
I also have a passion for cheerleading and participated with my high school’s cheerleading team for three years, and was part of a competitive cheerleading team, Black Widow for five years.

Please list any schools and universities (public/private/graduate/trade or technical) you have or are attending, as well as the area of study, graduation date and any degree or certification you received.

What charity/charities have you supported with your time and/or resources over past two years?

What would be your "dream job" in life?
I have two dream jobs that I am very passionate about, firstly I would love to be a news anchor/reporter, and to be able to travel the world covering all different types of stories and help make a difference in people’s lives. My second dream job would be to be a model or actress and experience a different type of lifestyle that would give me exposure to be a positive role model.

Name one person, other than your parents, who has had the most influence on your life? Why?
My two older sisters. They both taught me so much growing up and I admire and look to them as roles models. They showed me through their own actions how to help others, and to learn to respect everyone and see the beauty in all people.

What is the proudest personal accomplishment (other than being in this or any other beauty pageant competition)
My proudest personal accomplishment is being an avid blood donor, and realizing all the lives that I have helped save through my donations, and actually visiting hospitals to truly realize the difference and impact that donating blood can make in someone’s life.

What is your career ambition and what are you doing or plan to do to accomplish that goal?
My career ambition is to be a news anchor/reporter. In order to accomplish that goal I am currently attending University for four years and specializing in Mass Communications, as well, I plan on attending broadcasting school after graduation to develop the skills I need in order to achieve these goals.

Describe where you were raised and what your childhood was like.
I was raised in Ottawa, Ontario. My childhood consisted of spending time with family and friends. I have a big close Italian family, where we take pride in spending quality time together. In order to insure this, each of my grandmothers has held weekly dinners that allowed for my family to gather together and spend quality time together. Through my childhood my family and I were taught to appreciate the small things in life and to not take anything for granted, and to see the beauty in life’s precious moments.

List any interesting or unusual jobs you may have had.
I used to work at my fathers Pasta and Deli shop at a very young age, where I would meet and greet customers. I would also take care of cutting deli meats and cheeses; however, I would need to stand on a milk crate in order to do so since I was so young. I enjoyed this job because it allowed me to spend time with my father and grandparents and especially develop my passion for cooking.

List any volunteering you have done.
I have volunteered at Orchard View Living Center which is a senior’s home. I enjoy helping people and this type of work gave me the outlet to do so.
I have volunteered in 2009, and the Civic Hospital.
I have volunteered in 2007, working with elementary students at a daycare.

Where is the most interesting place you have been?
The most interesting place that I have been is when I went to Toronto for World Youth Day in 2005 with my parents and grand parents to see Pope John Paul II. This experience was once in a lifetime, and it was a monumental moment in my life that I will never forget.

What makes you unique and different from the other contestants?
What makes me unique and different from the other contestants is my positive attitude, and my high level of enthusiasm. Throughout my life I have always tried to make the best of a situation and I believe that life is to short to not make the best out of things.

What is your philosophy of/in life?
My philosophy in life is that everything happens for a reason, and that if you believe in yourself you can achieve anything.

What do you hope to be doing in 10 years?
In ten years I hope to have a career established in broadcasting or modeling, and hope to have accomplished many different things that have helped others and impacted their lives as well as mine.

Is there anything you would like to tell us about yourself? Something unique that has happened to you? Some interesting thing about you?
I am a very energetic and passionate person, and when I have a goal in my mind I am I will do anything possible to achieve it.

source: (Thank you and credits to
http://www.beautiesofcanada.com/
and all sources for the information and pictures)